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Prehistoric Period

Neolithic Period; Omari Culture, Maadi Culture

circa 5000−4400 b.c.e.

People lived in farming settlements. Nearly nothing is known of the political system.

Predynastic Period

Badarian Period, Naqada Period, and Dynasty 0

circa 4400–3000 b.c.e.

The Predynastic Period witnessed the earliest villages in Egypt in prehistoric times, and it stretched to the very beginnings of recorded history in Dynasty 0 about 1,400 years later. At first, Egyptians experienced numerous localized cultures. Archaeological evidence indicates the beginnings of international trade with the Near East and Nubia and the first writing in Dynasty 0.

Badarian Period: circa 4400−3800 b.c.e.

Naqada I Period: circa 3850−3650 b.c.e.

Naqada II Period: circa 3650−3300 b.c.e.

Naqada III Period: circa 3300−3100 b.c.e.

Dynasty 0: circa 3100−3000 b.c.e.

Early Dynastic Period

Dynasties 1 and 2

circa 3000−2675 b.c.e.

Upper and Lower Egypt (i.e., southern and northern Egypt) were unified during the First and Second Dynasties. Monumental architecture appeared in tombs, and King Narmer founded the national capital at Memphis.

Dynasty 1: circa 3000−2800 b.c.e.

Dynasty 2: circa 2800−2675 b.c.e.

Old Kingdom

Dynasties 3 through 6

circa 2675–2170 b.c.e.

The Old Kingdom saw the centralization of political power in Memphis, the national capital. King Djoser completed construction of history’s first stone buildings, at Saqqara. The peak of this centralized power came in the reigns of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, Fourth Dynasty kings who built their pyramids at Giza. Fifth and Sixth Dynasty kings allowed power to devolve gradually to the provinces, resulting in a new period of localized political control.

Dynasty 3: circa 2675–2625 b.c.e.

Dynasty 4: circa 2625–2500 b.c.e.

Dynasty 5: circa 2500–2350 b.c.e.

Dynasty 6: circa 2350–2170 b.c.e.

First Intermediate Period

Dynasty 7 through first half of Dynasty 11

circa 2170–2008 b.c.e.

The First Intermediate Period included the last years of the Memphis royal house and the rise of rival kings of the Ninth and Tenth Dynasties in Herakleopolis, southwest of modern Cairo, and of the Eleventh Dynasty in Thebes. Local control was stronger than central government influence.

Dynasties 7 and 8: circa 2170−2130 b.c.e.

Dynasties 9 and 10: circa 2130–1980 b.c.e.

First half of Dynasty 11: circa 2081–2008 b.c.e.

Middle Kingdom

Latter half of Dynasty 11 through Dynasty 13

circa 2008–after 1630 b.c.e.

The Middle Kingdom was a period of high achievement in the arts, architecture, and letters. In the Eleventh Dynasty, political power remained in Thebes, the home of the ruling dynasty. In the Twelfth Dynasty, the seat of power shifted northward to Lisht, located southwest of modern Cairo. The Twelfth Dynasty was the apex of centralized power in the Middle Kingdom. The Thirteenth Dynasty witnessed the gradual infiltration of West Semitic−speaking peoples into the eastern delta of the Nile and increased local control.

Latter half of Dynasty 11: circa 2008−1938 b.c.e.

Dynasty 12: circa 1938–1759 b.c.e.

Dynasty 13: circa 1759–after 1630 b.c.e.

Second Intermediate Period

Dynasties 14 through 17

1630–1539/1523 b.c.e.

Northern Egypt was dominated by western Semites, so called from the Egyptian words meaning “Rulers of Foreign Lands.” Native Theban princes ruled the south. Most of these dynasties overlap with each other in time.

Dynasty 14: uncertain but contemporaneous with late Dynasty 13

Dynasty 15: 1630—1523 b.c.e.

Dynasty 16: 1630—1523 b.c.e.

Dynasty 17: 1630—1539 b.c.e.

New Kingdom

Dynasties 18 through 20

circa 1539−1075 b.c.e.

Theban princes reasserted control over all of Egypt, founding the Eighteenth Dynasty. Pursuit of the defeated Hyksos rulers into the Near East resulted in long-term Egyptian interest in dominating the area. Further expansion of Egyptian borders also occurred southward in Africa into modern-day Sudan. Kings grew rich and patronized vast architectural and artistic projects. For seventeen years near the end of the dynasty, a religious revolutionary and king named Akhenaton, together with his wife Nefertiti, worshipped only the sun disk, which they called the Aten. This brief time span is called the Amarna Period.

After restoration of religious traditions, the Eighteenth Dynasty family was replaced by the Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasty family of kings called Ramesses. These kings maintained foreign possessions until the invasion of foreigners known as Sea Peoples. Egypt might have then lost its foreign possessions. The priests of Amun ruled southern Egypt.

Dynasty 18: circa 1539–1295/1292 b.c.e.

Dynasty 19: circa 1292–1190 b.c.e.

Dynasty 20: circa 1190–1075 b.c.e.

Third Intermediate Period

Dynasties 21 through 25

circa 1075−656 b.c.e.

This period witnessed overlapping local dynasties and kings of foreign origin from both Libya and Nubia. Yet the arts flourished in this era.

Dynasty 21: circa 1075–945 b.c.e.

Dynasty 22: circa 945–712 b.c.e.

Dynasty 23: circa 838–712 b.c.e.

Dynasty 24: circa 727–712 b.c.e.

Dynasty 25: circa 760–656 b.c.e.

Late Period

Dynasties 26 through 31

664−332 b.c.e.

Though foreigners ruled the country at this time, Egyptian culture was more likely to conquer them than be conquered. Libyans and Persians alternated rule with native Egyptians, but traditional conventions continued in the arts.

Dynasty 26: 664–525 b.c.e.

Dynasty 27: 525–404 b.c.e.

Dynasty 28: 404–399 b.c.e.

Dynasty 29: 399–381 b.c.e.

Dynasty 30: 381–343 b.c.e.

Dynasty 31: 343–332 b.c.e.

Ptolemaic Period

332−30 b.c.e.

Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 b.c.e. Following his death, his general Ptolemy established a family dynasty that ruled until the death of Cleopatra VII after the Battle of Actium in 31 b.c.e. Egypt maintained a dual culture encompassing both native Egyptian and Greek elements.

Macedonian Dynasty: 332−305 b.c.e.

Ptolemaic Dynasty: 305−30 b.c.e.

Roman and Byzantine Periods

30 b.c.e.–642 c.e.

During the early years of Roman rule the country was directly administered as the property of the emperor. In the fourth century c.e. the Roman Empire split into two halves and Egypt was now part of the Eastern Roman Empire, ruled from Constantinople (modern Istanbul). Egyptians increasingly converted to Christianity and created art that reflected the influence of the new religion.

Roman Period: 30 b.c.e.–395 c.e.

Byzantine Period: 395–642 c.e.

Islamic Period

642 c.e. to Present

Arab Muslims conquered Egypt in 642 c.e. and founded the city of Cairo in 969 c.e. Subsequently, the Arabic language gradually replaced ancient Egyptian, which disappeared in the eighteenth century. Egypt became an important center of Muslim scholarship in the medieval period. Today, Islam is the majority religion of Egypt.

A Brief Chronology of Ancient Egypt – Periods

A Brief Chronology of Ancient Egypt

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3. Lion

The king was associated with the lion from earliest times. ​

Lion burials were found near the oldest royal burials in Hierakonpolis

From Egypt​

Predynastic, Naqada III Period, circa 3300–3100 b.c.e. ​

Pegmatite

9 3⁄4 × 7 7⁄8 × 12 13⁄16 in.

(24.8 × 20 × 32.5 cm)​

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 73.26

A Brief Chronology of Ancient Egypt

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4. Scorpion

The Egyptian scorpion is feared because of its paralyzing sting. Two kings of the Early Dynastic Period were named “Scorpion” to inspire awe.

From Description de l’Égypte, ou, Recueil des observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l’expédition de l’armée française (Paris: Imprimerie de C.L.F. Panckoucke, 1821–30), book 32: Histoire naturelle, vol. 2, pl. 8, no. 3. Brooklyn Museum Libraries—Special Collections; Wilbour Library of Egyptology.

5. Swamp Scene

Beginning in the Old Kingdom, scenes of daily life in this world decorated tombs, magically ensuring that the next world would resemble this one. The swamps along the Nile with their teeming animal life, shown here, were an important source of food for Egyptians.

From Giza, Egypt​

Old Kingdom, Dynasty 5 to Dynasty 6, circa 2500–2170 b.c.e. ​

Limestone​

larger block: 14 15⁄16 × 25 9⁄16 × 1 3⁄16 in. (38 × 65 × 3 cm); ​

smaller block: 14 15⁄16 × 12 3⁄16 × 1 3⁄4 in. (38 × 31 × 4.5 cm)​

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 69.115.2a–b

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6. Stela of Intef and Senettekh

During the Eleventh Dynasty the Egyptians first depicted hunting dogs and pets on stelae. Here, Intef’s dog waits under the chair as his master and mistress eat and drink. The offering table contains a cow’s head and haunch of beef as a typical selection of offerings. These are also mentioned in the inscription.

Possibly from Qurnah, Egypt

First Intermediate Period to Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11, reigns of king Intef II to Intef III, or Mentuhotep II, ​

circa 2065–2000 b.c.e.

Limestone

11 5⁄8 × 13 7⁄8 in. (29.6 × 35.3 cm)

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 54.66

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7. Meretseger

The Egyptians believed that dangerous animals protected the king. Here, the snake goddess Meretseger protected the tombs in the Valley of the Kings during the New Kingdom.

From Saqqara, Egypt

New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Thutmose III to Thutmose IV,

circa 1479–1400 b.c.e.

Sandstone, paint

14 × 3 3⁄8 × 8 7⁄8 in. (35.6 × 8.5 × 22.5 cm)

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1749E

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8. Cat Mummy

The first votive animal mummies appear in the archaeological record during the Third Intermediate Period. This mummy of a cat could date as early as that period, according to carbon-14 dating.

From Egypt

Carbon-14 dated to 750–400 b.c.e.

Third Intermediate Period or later, Dynasty 22 to Dynasty 27, 1075–404 b.c.e.

Animal remains, linen

4 3⁄4 × 23 13⁄16 × 6 1⁄4 in. (12.1 × 60.5 × 14 cm)

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1988E

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9. Figure of Pataikos

Animal cults and animal mummies became increasingly important in the Late Period. Here, the god Pataikos wears a scarab beetle on his head, supports two human-headed birds on his shoulders, holds a snake in each hand, and stands atop crocodiles.

From Egypt

Late Period to Ptolemaic Period, Dynasty 26 or later, 664–30 b.c.e.

Faience, glazed

2 15⁄16 × 1 11⁄16 × 1 in. (7.5 × 4.3 × 2.5 cm)

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.949E

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10. Ibis

This lithograph of an Egyptian ibis represents the bird sacred to the god Thoth. The Archive of Hor, detailing the workings of the sacred animal necropolis in Saqqara and written in the Ptolemaic Period, refers often to the ibis cemetery.

From Description de l’Égypte: Histoire naturelle, vol. 1, pl. 7, no. 2.

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11. Detail of Frieze of Animals in Plant Scroll

(see figure 56)​

Representations of animals remained popular in Late Antiquity, a time when many Egyptians had converted to Christianity.